Heard Mr.U.Karunakaran, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioners and Mr.V.Govardhanan, the learned counsel appearing for the first and second respondents and Mr.V.Manoharan, the learned Government Advocate appearing for the third respondent.

2. It is stated by the petitioners that they had joined the Bachelor of Arts Degree Course in Economics in the third respondent College during the academic year 1996-97. The petitioners were due to write the final Semester Examinations, in the third year of their degree course, during the months of April-May 1999. On 04.02.1999, elections were being conducted in the Department of Economics to elect the office bearers. The petitioners and some others had requested the head of the department not to conduct the department elections at the fag end of the year. During the elections, disputes had arisen amongst the supporters of the various candidates resulting in creation of serious animosity. As a consequence, a criminal complaint had been registered before the Sub-Inspector of Musiri Police Station.

.3. The petitioners have further stated that, based on the criminal complaint given by one Nandakumar, the Sub-Inspector of Mus